Appropriate Literature

Conversations with Charley

This afternoon after church I baked four lasagnas, then took myself to a movie I've been dying to see (The Help). Better do it now right?

While I was gone Jeremy made this sweet video of Charley talking about Super Why and the new cast member, Woofster the Super Dog.

He also made Baba Ghanoush, but that's completely unrelated.



You gotta admit, even though you can't always understand Charley's words, he has the BEST facial expressions.

So here's the Deal

Rather than re-write the story I've been telling everyone...here is the news on my foot, copied from an email I sent out to family:

So you guys remember two weeks ago when I fell on a Thomas the Train and thought I tore or damaged at tendon?

I've been wearing a space boot for 2 weeks and had my appt with an Ortho yesterday. He did what is called a stress xray which translates to OUCH! He held my foot on the xray table and contorted it in all kinds of strange ways to get a view of what it looked like when I was writhing in pain (with both of the kids sitting on a stool in the next room watching, haha)

Anyway, I actually busted (or 'blew out') is what he said, the ligaments on the top of my foot.

So far my explanation hasn't been very good but there are several small rounds joint bones between your big toe and your ankle. Well mine are disconnected from the rest of the bones of the foot, and you can see very clearly a big gap where they are supposed to be held together by ligaments. He kept showing me my good foot and bad one on xray. It was like here's a normal foot....here's a foot with a huge gap where the bones are seperated.

So I have to have surgery, there is no other option. They will place 4-5 screws there to 'fuse' the bones back together. And the worst part of all...two weeks of elevation, then NO WEIGHT BEARING for two months (meaning crutches or walker/scooter only) , followed by two months in the walking cast and physical therapy.

That's the part that gets me right now. I could care less about pain and sugery, but I can't stand or walk on it for two months. I'm assuming I will get crutches or a walker or whatever to manuever around the house. I figure if I have crutches I can take the kids to school, and I can use the electric scooter at the grocery store. But I'm a SAHM....what about my normal activities like doing laundry, babysitting, cooking dinner, taking the kids to the zoo and library.

It's not like I'm soooo worried about the laundry. I have a perfectly capable husband, and a pile of laundry's not the end of the world. But I'm worried about my mental state without doing the things that I consider to be 'productive'. I mean it's basically like if I were working a 'real' job that requires you to be on your feet...I would lose my job or go on disability.


I know I can't sit around and watch tv for two months. That's just not going to work. I'm working on a bucket list of things I can do, projects I can start and fun activities for the kids. Any great ideas? Book suggestions?

Today I scheduled my surgery for Friday the 23rd. Mom will be here for three days, then Jeremy will do his best to manage the week after that, then Grammie and Grampie arrive (complete with rescue dogs!) for two weeks starting on 10/2. We are so blessed to have such great help and support! I know I will need some babysitting that first week after surgery on Wed (the 28th) and Fri (the 30th) so that Jeremy can work. Anybody interested?

Thanks for all your prayers and support and love.

Jeremy reminded me yesterday: Cor 10:13 (MSG) No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it

Since I wrote this I've been hard at work getting my ducks in a row, as well as celebrating Dad's 60th birthday and Marshall-ness down in North Vernon.

I've come up with a list of things to do next week pre-surgery:
- major grocery shop
- make a couple more lasagnas to freeze
- visit hobby lobby to get some crafts for myself, and a lap board
- clean out the car (so the G's won't be grossed out by it)
- wash comforter and guest room comforter
- get my hair done, possibly with teal streaks
- go to dance class with the kids
- go to the park and other places outside with the kids
- set up my nightstand and drawers with snacks, books and crafts
- buy a couple of new pillows for the bed

These are my plans post surgery, particularly the first two weeks when I have to be laying in bed:
- start every day reading the bible, and do the 'experiencing God' bible study with my friend Jenn.
- read the chronicles of Narnia
- read other books (suggestions?)
- play words with friends with everybody I know
- pick a tv series I've never seen and download the whole thing (suggestions?)
- do some painting, maybe corn syrup painting
- maybe cross-stitch or teach myself crochet
- use the scrap book paper I have in our stuff to make the kids origami swans
- write cards and letters
- Christmas shop online

What have I missed? I'm open to any and all ideas. I hope I can use this time in a constructive and uplifting way. But no doubt there will be TV....lots of TV.

Papaw the Grand Marshall

So this is what it's like to be the daughter of a bona-fied celebrity. Not only were my parents stars of the home and garden tour, Dad's the new superintendent of Jennings County which made him a prime candidate to be the Grand Marshall of this year's homecoming parade.

I'm glad this happened while I am still mobile. (After next week I will no longer be mobile, but that's another post that I don't have the energy to write right now). So the kids and I hopped in the car and drove down to NV.

We rearranged our normal Wednesday plans cause...we weren't going to miss this!

Charley and Tessa all ready to go. Tessa couldn't quite figure out what a parade was. She asked if we were going to see clowns and elephants. I think she was thinking of the circus.

They figured it out pretty quick though. Parade= CANDY!

See that orange Corvette with the dashing figure atop it? The Grand Marshall!

I giggled the whole time. I'm not laughing AT you Dad....just laughing at a member of our family being such a celebrity. TWO members actually, cause every Grand Marshall need a Grand Lady, you know.

Mom took a picture of us taking a picture of them. This was their cheering section. Hey Papaw!....I mean Your Marshall-ness!



So much fun. A great afternoon down home, catching candy, waving and visiting a bit.

Serious and Sad Stuff- Finding Hope

I'm not good with serious stuff. Not in writing or in real life. I tend to run the other way and then wait for a good time to make awkward inappropriate jokes.

So I feel like I should say something about 9/11, about the ladies brunch I went to on Saturday to raise awareness for human trafficking and prostitution in Indianapolis. But I don't know where to begin. I guess it's fair to say that both events opened my eyes to the gratitude I need to have on a daily basis, and realizing the importance of life.

No injuring my foot was not the end of the world, so I need to stop acting like it.

Then this morning I got on FB and saw that someone had nominated my friend Shannon as a 'Mom who changed the world'. You may remember me writing about Shannon and the loss of her baby to SIDS, and how my online community came to her side in the most amazing ways.

I know I don't have a huge readership but Google once told me I had enough traffic to warrant advertising if I wanted it (which I don't). So I am asking you to please go on this site and vote for Shannon. If she wins, money will be donated to aid in SIDS research.

Click and just click "like" like you do on facebook. It's that simple. THANKS

And so there were alot of sad reminders this weekend, but I am choosing not to be sad. There is always hope, given by God, and we can endure all things.

I'll leave you with a song because more than anything else I can think of, I draw inspiration and happiness from music. Listening to it, singing it, talking about it. I love this band and I love the words of this song....

I Ain't to Proud to Beg

You all remember the TLC video with the giant sunglasses right....no?



You're welcome.

Moving on. I'm here to ask you to buy stuff and I ain't proud to beg. Mostly because it support the kids, their dance studio and anyone anywhere can participate!

Because I'm too lazy to re-type, here's the email I sent out to few people this morning....

Well first let me say that I hate fundraisers because EVERYBODY has one. So if any of you are currently selling something too, let me know! But yes I am selling cookie dough again this year to pay for dance recital costumes. And as you may know, we now have two kids in dance class so I have double the funds to raise. Our cost for recital costumes will equal about $200 this year, but Tippy Toes is very generous and gives us $4 off for every single item we sell. All other proceeds go to the Indianpolis Youth Ballet (Tippy Toes mother studio)

And this year they also offered that they will put your name in a raffle if you sell more than 20 items. Raffle winnings?.... a full year's dance tuition paid!!

So yes, I'm asking you to buy stuff :)

Now locally I am selling frozen cookie dough from both the Cookie Factory and Mrs. Fields. This year they also added Auntie Annes frozen pretzel and pretzel dogs, which I personally am very excited about. So those are great and I will hand deliver to your door.

But, what I did not know until a little bit ago is that those of you who live many many miles away can participate too. You can purchase over the internet!! And since frozen cookie dough doesn't ship well there are all sorts of other stuff like wrapping paper, candy, candles, jewelry and great magazine prices.

I'll direct you to the website to browse and shop. I'll admit this website kinda sucks so bare with it...

www.ezfundraising.com
click participant
User ID: FZE8693
Password: 658693
click 'shop' then 'go shopping"
Buy anything from the 'red apple' company.

Locals who want the cookie dough, just let me know what you're interested in. They have every flavor under the sun.

Deadline for ordering is October 4th for frozen cookie dough, November 21st for all the online stuff.

The Ballerino and his Ladies

Today was the first day of dance class for the year, and Charley was happy to join Tessa and Rachel in the dancing. Dressed in his manly black shoes and yoga pants, he jumped right in and did a great job.

The preschool class is for 2-5 year olds so this year will be that one perfect window of time for them to dance together. Not to mention Charley was chomping at the bit to join in last year. At first Jeremy had some reservations about a boy dancing, but in time he got over it. They do some ballet and then some tap, and the teachers are careful to make sure Charley's props are boy appropriate. It's wonderful!

I thought there was a tiny chance he might run around crazy or freak out, but not at all. He listened well, waited his turn and followed the rest of the class (actually his big sister is the one having trouble paying attention sometimes)

I think it's going to be a good year at Tippy Toes.

The girls wore butterfly wings to 'fly' around with, but Miss Kim had some nice manly bumblebee wings for Charley.

Run, jump, pose!

Charley getting some personal instruction on how to do turns on the bar.

Dem Bones

Every once in a while I run across something at the store that I simply can't walk away from....

First Signs of Fall

Pumpkin spice lattes!!

Then somebody stole mine. I knew I shouldn't have given him such highly caffeinated breast milk.

Charley's Room- aka the Library

I had to show off our new piece of furniture. I got it when a friend alerted me to an online sale... 1/3 the original price and no shipping. Woot woot!

We needed a bookshelf (as opposed the the pile of books stacked against Tessa's bed that she called her 'library') But what I really love is that they can SEE the fronts. Brilliant! Digging through stacks can be a pain and since, ya know, they can't read what's written on the spine....this is perfect!

Note the hook on the side to hang our library book bag. Genius right? I've recently become addicted to 3G sticky hooks and laminate paper but that's another post entirely...

This bad boy moved into Charley's room along with the white book shelves that were already there.

We put these up when I was pregnant with Tessa. In my naivety I though this would be enough space to house all the kid's books we might ever own. Silly girl.

So since Charley is now the owner of all the books (well almost all, there's a pile in the living room too) and his room also houses Gramaw's comfy chair. I now dub him a future librarian!

...but will there BE libraries in the future, there in lies the question...

Painting the Town Red

And by town I mean our front sidewalk. And by red I mean more like pastel pink.

Thanks to my friend from HS, Brittani, and another fabulous idea from her blog (she's full of them), we made sidewalk paint. It's one of those things where you think...hey I have all those ingredients, why not?

You mix equal parts cornstarch and water to make a milk like substance, then add food coloring. The corn starch seems to help it adhere to the ground and make a really bright color as well.

Then grab some paint brushes and go to town!

The girls said this was a pink pig with a blue head. Freaky.

We only did this for a little while before we had to head back inside. Why, because Indiana weather is CRAZY and it his 99 degrees this afternoon with a heat advisory. In September. Sheesh.

Cheering Up

I've not had the easiest time with my bum leg. It's getting better every day but my spirit has been dragging. I don't like being waited on, I don't like breaking routine and I'm starting to feel like a slug sitting around so much.

Today was my first day out into the world since Sunday. I drove the kids to school and then took myself on a short trip to Target. After about 10 min of walking I was ready to drop, but it was nice while it lasted.

While at Target I picked up a gift for the kids. Partially to thank them for being so good, and partially to apologize for myself being so grumpy...

They like it...no they love it. And who cares about rules, when Charley is playing every game is just 'I won' anyway.

So things are starting to look up around here. I even walked around the house some today without my space boot on, and that's good progress. The freezer food has been a blessing as well as Mom being able to help for two days.

So I need to stop complaining and knashing my teeth. Life is good. And trying to remember this bible passage from 2 Corinthians 4:

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Homemade Laundry Soap

The other days before I fell and busted my foot, I was working on a few projects around the house. I never did get my pesto made but I did make some homemade laundry soap.

I used this method, which was super easy and super cheap. We've been buying essential oils to use for medical purposes (we're actually distributors, talk to Jeremy the apothecary if you have questions)...and had gotten several oils for free like Lemon, Citrus Fresh and Tangerine. Since these don't have any medical significance for us, I figured we had to find a way to use them!

So liquid laundry soap it is....



I carved up some Fels Naptha bar laundry soap, which apparently isn't always easy to find. In a pinch you can use Ivory as well. You melt it in water and make the 'soap soup' that the directions mention.

Then add Arm and Hammer washing soda, borax and I added about half the bottle of lemon oil. Plus 3 gallons of water, voila....that's A LOT of soap.


The lady who wrote blog crunched the numbers on cost savings but that was for a FRONT LOAD washer and we have an HE, so when she said one batch is enough for 52 loads, that's actually 104 for us.

But check out her analysis...

Each batch of detergent contains 52 cups of the solution – 48 from the three gallons in the bucket, and four more cups of water with the dissolved soap. Since I use one cup per load, this means a single batch makes 52 loads’ worth of detergent.

Let’s say, hypothetically, that I make six batches of the stuff and use the other half of the box of Borax for something else. That means I’ve made enough detergent for 312 loads of laundry for a total cost of $6.97. That’s roughly two and a quarter cents per load of laundry.

It smells pretty good and lemony fresh, and seems to clean well although I haven't had any major laundry catastrophes to deal with yet. It's a little more watery than hers but dissolves great. So far, very pleased with it.

And I have enough washing soda, oil and soap to make lots lots more. Anybody want some?

I Know for Sure

1) Thomas the Train toys should not be left on the kitchen floor.

2) Tearing tendons in your foot hurts almost as much as med-free childbirth.


3) Space boots are sexy.

4) Vicodin makes me puke...repeatedly.

5) God is still good, all the time.

Perpetual Change

There used to be a pack and play crib in this corner, for the past 5 years. We used it for diaper changes and storage of cloth diapers and kid shoes. Amazingly, like a lot of baby items, it just up and disappeared one day....

I have to note the felt grape piece on the wall is from Mamaw for Jeremy's birthday. Thanks Mamaw!

Charley is using two diapers a day right now...one for nap time and one (double stuffed) at bedtime. So all of the piles of diapers kept in this location have been rendered moot. He now has a small stash in his dresser upstairs, and I have a couple of bags of smaller ones to be re-used or sold at some point.

As a side note, I only have to wash a load of diapers twice a week. Part-ay!

Like many people, you may be wondering if we are saving all this stuff away for more babies. The answer is, we don't know yet so stop asking. Okay that sounded rude...how about just, we don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. Personally I think we should wait five years and then have a set of twins. Good plan right?

Big Announcement- Adding to the Family

Well, I was going to wait a few more weeks until it felt more real, but you know how I can't keep my mouth shut on these things. We are both excited, and understandably nervous.

When I think about the months to come and how our family will change and grow, it can be overwhelming. And obviously this decision did not come without much thought and prayer.

But I know this transition will be so natural, and the kids will respond well to the changes around the house. Tessa is already excited about the new addition and getting to help.

So without further babbling, I'm ready to announce....



We are now owners of a SET of Le Creuset cookware. Exciting right?! What do you think we should name them??

Disclaimer--- I'm hoping at least one person thought I was going to say I was pregnant, otherwise the irony is lost. Secondly, before you think we won the lottery and start knocking on our door for money...these were Jeremy's reward for racking up thousands of Marriott hotel rewards points. It was this or an iPad. I think it's obvious he made the right choice.

Visiting the Elephants

About a month ago, the Indy zoo had a baby elephant. We had to go check her out before she got too big, so Friday the kids and I packed a lunch put on some sunscreen and headed to the zoo.

Note for the future...I totally didn't plan it this way on purpose but it was also free admission day at the state fair so the zoo was so so quiet. There was like nobody there! We'll have to do the same next year.

Wait, next year Tessa might already be in Kindergarten when that day comes, BOO HOO HOO!...Sniff...Okay moving on. Enjoy the pics!

Riding the zoo train

Yes there are bats that big. Crazy right?

PB&J time.

Of all the amazing animals at the zoo, my kids like the ducks that hanging out by the food court begging for scraps. I can see the appeal, unlike the other animals...you can reach right out and feed them goldfish if you want. I'm partial to ducks myself.

There she is, so cute! I couldn't remember her name but the internet tells me it's Kilena.

She flipped her trunk over her head and nursed.

My Cookie Project- 1 year later

I was thinking it was time to check in on my cookie baking project, and that it had been about a year since I started. Then I checked the blog archives and it's only been 10 month. Huh. Oh well, close enough.

I started baking cookies last fall for several reasons but mostly because I hated baking and was also very very bad at it. Very bad.

So my goal was to force myself not only to learn it but to LIKE it. As the kids were getting older and the addition of weekly babysitting brought more kids in the house, I liked the idea of having something homemade available for treats. It seems like a very June Cleaver idea doesn't it?

I found that making drop cookies is really not hard at all. It seems most of them have the same basic ingredients...flour, sugar, eggs and then some other stuff to differentiate. Making a huge mess all the time had been a concern of mine also, and I was pleasantly surprised that that wasn't so bad either, using my handy rubbermaid containers for dry storage and a file folder for recipes.

I guess a year later I would say I am no longer scared to TRY cooking and baking new things. I'm almost certain that extra time spent in the kitchen is part of what me brave enough to try my recent adventures in freezer cooking. The kitchen is not as scary as I thought, and not necessarily only "Jeremy's territory".

Many friends and family members have benefited from donations of cookies, and I found the joy in sharing food with people for no good reason other than that you want to. My waistline didn't suffer or shrink...it's pretty much (sadly) the same as it was a year ago, but having a jar full of fresh cookies always in the kitchen was a good exercise in self control.

I guess there is no point to my post here than to say that it's good to make silly goals and stick with them. I didn't bake all those cookies just cause I was bored, but because I wanted to learn something and bless my family. Mission accomplished.

I've made 19 recipes, and they can all be found here. I'm still baking, and Jeremy has ventured into baking our bread on a weekly basis. Bread scares me a bit (wait didn't I just say I wasn't scared?).

Today I made some of the famous black onyx cookies for Jeremy's birthday tomorrow, and I did it with such speed and efficiency that I surprised myself. Not too shabby.

School Lunch, Junior Edition

It's so conveinent that at this age I can pack them identical lunches and nobody complains. Today's selection pb&j on a whole wheat bun thingy, string cheese, cup of blueberries and an applesauce squirty. Add two cute lunch boxes and 'honest kids' juice pouches. Done!

As a side note, they also both got a new pair of shoes for the fall. Even though Charley refuses to grow (he still fits best into 18 month clothes), his feet are growing as are Tessa's.

Thank you Target. Gah, we love Target. Imagining a life without Target gives me some major anxiety. These were $9.99 each. Tessa has three other pairs of shoes that fit, and Charley has just one other...and I think that's perfect. As cute as little shoes can be, I never saw the point in having a ton of them. They grow too fast!